Page:The collected works of Henrik Ibsen (Volume 7).djvu/74

 Krogstad.

Excuse me; the outer door was ajar—somebody must have forgotten to shut it

Nora.

[Standing up.; My husband is not at home, Mr. Krogstad.

Krogstad.

I know it.

Nora.

Then what do you want here?

Krogstad.

To say a few words to you.

Nora.

To me? [To the children, softly.] Go in to Anna. What? No, the strange man won't hurt mamma. When he's gone we'll go on playing.

[She leads the children into the left-hand room, and shuts the door behind them. Uneasy, in suspense.]

It is to me you wish to speak?

Krogstad.

Yes, to you.

Nora.

Today? But it's not the first yet

Krogstad.

No, to-day is Christmas Eve. It will depend upon yourself whether you have a merry Christmas.

Nora.

What do you want? I'm not ready to-day